Door-latch.



L. A. 'BESTGE'N.

' DOOR LATCH.

APPLICATION'FILED JULY 23, 1915.

LOUIS A. IBESTGEN, OF TIP'ION, MISSOURI.

DOOR-LATCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 23, 1916.

Application filed July 23, 1915 Serial No. 41,483.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that'I, LOUIS A. BESTGEN,

a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Tipton, in the county of Moniteau, State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Door-Latches, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements to door latches, and is designed especially for the purpose of providing a simple, inexpensive, easily adjustable and manipulated device of this character which is capable of latching the door and so holding it, in either open or closed position.

The invention consists in certain novel combinations andarrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully pointed out and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention constructed according to the best mode I have so far devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the latch and its connections, showing a portion of a door and structure in section. Fig. 2 shows the door opened and latched back, and a looking loop is illustrated holding the latch in locked position. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the latch bolt. Fig. 4 is a view in front elevationshowing the door closed and latched. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the housing forming part of my invention.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated in connection with my improved latch, a door 1 hinged at 2 to the structure 3 which may be ofany type or form. The bolt 4 is of special and peculiar construction as seen in Fig. 3, wherein an integral handle 5 is fashioned at one end of the bolt, and a locking extensionfi is projected from the bolt 4. The extension is formed with a triangular shaped head 7 and the bolt 4 is provided with vertical perforations or openings 4. I have illustrated the bolt as being made up of bar iron, with the head 7 folded to shape, but it will be understood that other forms or metal shapes may be employed if desired.

The extension 6 projects through a slot or opening 8 properly located in the door 1, and the latch bolt 4 is slidably supported in the housing 9. A coil spring 10 is located about the bolt in the housing and this spring bears at one end against the housing and at the other end against a pin 11 fitted in one of the holes 4 in the bolt 4. A second pin 12 is passed through one of these holes and this pin is employed to stop movement of the bolt under impulse from the spring. The spring is held under tension between the housing and the pin 11 so that the end of the bolt is urged'over the edge of the keeper 13 on the post 14 in Fig. 1, to hold the door latched. In addition to the keeper 13, a hasp 15 is employed, to hold the latch bolt when the door is opened. This hasp comprises a U-shaped metal bar with brackets by which it is fastened to the structure or wall 3 and as seen in Fig. 2 the head 7 of the bolt extension 6 is adapted to engage over the hasp to retain the door in open position. To look the door in either open or closed position I employ a locking loop 16 which is pivoted to the plate 17 and the plate is secured to the door 1 in position so that the loop may be swung over the head 7 as in Fig. 2 to hold the slidable latch bolt. When held in this position, or in the position of Fig. 1, the bolt may be locked by utilizing a padlock (as in dotted lines) and the bolt is thus held immovable and consequently cannot be freed from the hasp.

It will readily be seen that the use of the holes 4 in the bolt permits of quite a range of adjustment for the bolt when the pins 11 and 12 are moved and fixed in the desired or required openings 4. The U-shaped hasp 15 is effective in preventing sagging of the door in that the head 7 is supported in the hasp and prevents the door from swinging vertically on its hinges. In Fig. 5 the housing is shown provided with two groups of openings as A and B arranged in pairs at each end of the housing, the former for the latch bolt 4 and the latter for the attaching screws or bolts by means of which the housing is attached to. the door. These openings A and B allow for adjustment of the bolt in the housing and of the housing itself with relation to cracks or openings in the door, and form convenient means for overcoming ditficulties that frequently arise in the putting up or erecting of doors. It will readily be understood that the handle 5 is employed at the outside to I have provided a simple door latch which The combination With a slotted door and slidably supported in the housing and :a handle to the bolt, a headed extension at right angles-to the bolt and passed through 10 r the slotted door, a hasp' on the supporting structure fforthe door, and a loop pivoted on the door adapted to pass over and engage said'head and coact with locking means for V the door. 15 its housing of a spring pressed latoh'bolt In testimony whereof, I alfix my signature. V

' LOUIS A. BESTGEN.

copies of thh patent may he obtained for five cents each, layaddressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, no." 

